Ohio Rep.-elect Steve Kraus indicted

PORT CLINTON, Ohio – The man who defeated the Ohio Democratic Party’s chairman in his Statehouse race was charged Thursday with stealing antiques from a northern Ohio home.

An grand jury indicted Steve Kraus, a Republican backed by the tea party, on one felony count each of burglary, breaking and entering and theft. He is expected to have an initial appearance next month in Ottawa County Common Pleas Court.

Kraus, 55, of Huron, ousted state Rep. Chris Redfern, D-Catawba Island, Nov. 4 for the seat that represents Ottawa and Erie counties. Redfern also announced on election night he would resign as party chairman.

Kraus was not available for comment, and his attorney, James Hart of Sandusky, could not be reached.

Kraus is charged with taking antiques, a shotgun and other items April 7 from a home in the 600 block of Lightner Road in Danbury Township, east of Port Clinton. A neighbor gave Danbury Township police pictures of Kraus leaving the home with some of the items in question, according to a Danbury Township police report.

For months, Kraus was the lead suspect in the case. Special prosecutor Melissa Bergman of Sylvania Municipal Court reviewed the investigation and determined there was not enough cause to file charges.

Danbury Township police persisted, saying they had a strong case. Mulligan then asked another special prosecutor, Tim Braun, to review the case and information regarding the investigation that Mulligan said was new to him and to give a second opinion.

Hart has said the situation was a misunderstanding. Kraus, an auctioneer, admitted he took the items, but he said the real estate agent selling the home asked him to take them and inventory them for auction, according to a statement Hart released last month.

“He said he did not intend to keep the items for himself,” according to the Sept. 29 polygraph report Kraus’ attorney provided with the statement. “He said when he found out that the house was being sold to the owner’s brother, he returned all of the items he had taken.”

The former homeowner, a woman who owns the items in question, told police some but not all of her things were returned, according to the report. Reached Thursday evening, the woman declined to comment.

The real estate agent, Jenine Porter, told Danbury Township police she gave Kraus permission only to take pictures of an antique car in the garage. She said she did not give Kraus permission to enter the house or take anything from it, according to the report. ⬛